James Vowles and Williams have a decision to make regarding their 2025 driver line-up. Logan Sargeant is out of contract at the end of the season and he’s very much fighting for his future.
Vowles told Sargeant in the winter that he needed to be the ‘surprise of the season’ to keep his seat. Williams kept faith in the American despite a rookie season that saw Alex Albon out-score him by 27 points to one.
But there’s little sign of things changing in 2024. While Williams have regressed, with Albon unable to score any points across the first four rounds, Sargeant continues to struggle to match him.
In Australia, Vowles even took the decision to bench the youngster after Albon damaged one of the two chassis Williams had available with a crash in practice. The team principal praised his handling of the situation but it appeared a brutal reflection of his standing within the team.
And based on recent reports, Williams are shopping around. They have ambitiously set their sights on three-time race-winner Carlos Sainz as he prepares to leave Ferrari ahead of Lewis Hamilton’s arrival.
After Aston Martin elected to re-sign Fernando Alonso rather than hire Sainz, Williams have emerged as one of his likeliest destinations. But if that doesn’t come off, they could look at drivers in the lower categories too.
James Vowles praises F2 teenager as driver decision looms
During an appearance on the Track Limits podcast, Vowles was asked to name the drivers in Formula 2 and Formula 3 who have caught his eye. He picked out 19-year-old Williams junior Zak O’Sullivan, currently racing in F2 with ART.
O’Sullivan, who finished runner-up in the F3 standings last year after winning four races, drove in FP1 for Williams at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix last year. He set the 18th-fastest time in the session, lapping within about seven tenths of Sargeant.
The Englishman currently ranks 11th in the F2 standings on 15 points. His best result so far came in the Bahrain feature race, when he finished fourth.
Vowles said: “We have a tremendous amount [of talent] on the Williams books. We have Zak, who drove in FP1. What impressed me – everything was strong – was we gave him an opportunity in FP1 and he did a really solid job with it.”
Will Logan Sargeant lose his Williams seat?
There has been talk that Sargeant could forfeit his drive even before the season is out. Mercedes junior Andrea Kimi Antonelli, one of O’Sullivan’s F2 rivals, could apparently step into his cockpit after he turns 18 in late August.
Sargeant came in for plenty of criticism from ex-drivers after the last race in Japan, when he crashed in FP1 before finishing 17th. Jolyon Palmer lamented his growing list of ‘random mistakes’, while Ralf Schumacher observed that he looks ‘overwhelmed’.
However, others have offered their backing. Pedro de la Rosa urged him to do more simulator days and not let his head drop, while Jenson Button has stressed that he ‘has the talent’ after his success at the junior level.
Meanwhile, Vowles will also be wary of the possibility that Albon leaves the team.Red Bull have apparently put a contract on the table for the 2026 season, though Helmut Marko has refused to be drawn on those rumours.
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